What’s next?: City of Fishers speaks on 2019 projects, initiatives

As 2018 comes to a close, Mayor Scott Fadness and his team at the City of Fishers is looking forward to what the new year will bring.

“I would characterize looking forward to 2019 as a year of a lot of implementation of ideas that have been discussed (in 2018),” Fadness said.

Those ideas include the Nickel Plate Trail, the completion of The Yard at Fishers District, development within the AgriPark and the demolition and construction of a new fire department headquarters and Station 93, among other projects.

The first portion of the Nickel Plate Trail will be funded by a tax rate increase in 2019. (Submitted rendering)

A tax rate increase for trail, fire stations and road projects

A 4-centtax rate increase from 65.38 cents to 69.60 cents per $100 of assessed value will begin in 2019. It will fund the first portion of the Nickel Plate Trail, reconstruction of Fire Station 93 and the fire station headquarters on Municipal Drive.

“We hope to be moving forward right away with implementation of the trail,” Fadness said.

The 2019 portion of the proposed 9.2-mile trail in Fishers and Noblesville will cost roughly $9 million and will extend the trail from 106th Street to 126th Street, with a possible tunnel-style crossing at 116th Street.

The tax rate increase also will fund reconstruction for two fire stations — Fire Station 91, 2 Municipal Dr., and Fire Station 93, 10501 Allisonville Rd., will be demolished and reconstructed in 2019. Construction will begin on Fire Station 91 in the spring.

“We will move the guys out to an alternative location for the duration of construction,” Fadness said. “We are looking to rent a facility near the Fuel Tank (9022 E. 126th St.).”

Station 93 demolition and reconstruction will occur later in the spring. Firefighters at both stations will still be housed in a building within the stations’ districts.

Road projects include widening Allisonville Road to four lanes from 116th Street to 131st Street, which is under construction. A roundabout will be built at Reynolds Drive and 126th Street and Ford Drive and 126th Street. Construction will start in the spring on 96th Street to widen it to four lanes from Lantern Road to Cumberland Road.

The Yard at Fishers District

Fadness expects all aspects of The Yard at Fishers District to be complete before the end of 2019. The Yard at Fishers District is a culinary-centric, 17-acre project which also includes hotels and retail outlets. Some of the restaurants expected to open soon are Sun King Brewing Co., Sangiovese Ristorante, The HC Grill and Copper Moon Coffee, among others.

“Originally, it was just mostly restaurants, but as it developed, (the developers) found you can’t just have a mixed-use development that only has food,” Chelsea Hudelson, retail marketing coordinator for Thompson Thrift Retail Group, which is developing the project, told Current in October.

Mayor Scott Fadness said development on the AgriPark, an urban farm with crops and immersive learning opportunities, will continue in 2019. (Submitted image)

AgriPark and Geist Waterfront Park

Fadness said the AgriPark, an urban farm with crop production and immersive learning opportunities at 113th Street and Florida Road, is expected to be further developed in the new year. More announcements are anticipated regarding Geist Waterfront Park development on Geist Reservoir at 111th Street and Olio Road.

“This year there were a lot of announcements about ideas like the Geist Waterfront Park, the AgriPark, further discussion on State Road 37, all these things were announced,” Fadness said. “Next year, we hope to be really in the middle of all of it.It’s going to be a really busy year.”

Staying focused

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said one the biggest challenges in 2019 is to not lose focuson priority issues during what will be an election year.

“Obviously, next year is an election year, so (the challenge) is making sure everybody stays focused on providing services to our residents and maintaining the vision regardless of the chaos that comes with election season,” Fadness said. “Beyond that, making sure we can create this vision and develop it at the same time while trying not to impede on people’s daily lives (is a priority).”